Tropicals
Tolmiea menziesii
Piggyback plant
Soft, maple-shaped leaves carry tiny new plantlets where each leaf meets its stalk, the origin of its playful name. This foliage plant suits a moist, shaded container or hanging basket. It comes from western North American forests rather than the tropics.
At a glance
- Mature size
- Height: About 1 ft.
- Water
- Keep moist; prefers humid conditions
- Hardiness
- USDA zones 6–9
- Bloom
- Small purplish-brown tubular flowers in spring.
- Light
- Filtered light or partial shade
Sizes & prices
- 4"$10.99
- 6"$19.99
Catalog updated September 8, 2026. This is not a live stock count; please call to confirm availability and price.
Ask about this plantSelect a section to expand.
Resistance & tolerances
- Wet soil
- Tolerates moist to occasionally wet soil.
Pollinators & wildlife
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies
Native range
- Native range / parentage
- Western coastal North America.
Keep in mind: May cause contact dermatitis in sensitive people.
Growing & care
- Soil
- Fertile, organic-rich soil.
- Propagation
- Plantlets root when they contact the soil; plants also spread by rhizomes.
- Placement
- Use a shady patio container or moist woodland setting.
- Winter
- As a houseplant, choose a cool, bright position without direct sun. This is a cool-climate perennial, not a heat-loving tropical plant.
Sources & photo credits
Photo: brewbooks · CC-BY-SA 2.0
Image notes: Tolmiea menziesii. Available sizes and selections vary. Uncropped.
Reviewed September 26, 2026. Growing conditions vary by location.